08x15 - The Case of the Frustrated Folk Singer

[bunniefuu]

(theme song playing)

(upbeat country music playing)

(music trails off)

JAZBO: You looking
for somebody, young lady?

I'd like to see
Mr. Jazbo Williams.

Yes, ma'am. That's me.

AMY JO:
Oh!

Well, I'm Amy Jo Jennings

and I just came up here
recently from down South.

JAZBO:
No!

Why, I never would have guessed.

Oh, you...!

Well, anyway, I sing folk songs

and Hootenanny and all like
that, and I'd like a job.

Well, do you have any notices?

Notices?

Yeah, I mean, where
have you worked before?

Professionally?

Oh.

Well, before I came to Hollywood

I used to sing with a little
hillbilly band back home.

But, fiddlesticks,
I might as well have been

a turkey gobbler
at Thanksgiving,

for all the future
there was in that.

(chuckling):
Yeah, I see.

Well, you see, we can't afford
much for talent around here,

except for ourselves, of course.

Oh, it won't cost you anything

to give me a chance,
Mr. Williams.

AMY JO:
Okay?

Okay, Amy Jo Jennings.

You want to take
a run at a number?

♪ Alas, my love ♪

♪ You do me wrong

♪ To cast me off -

♪ Discourteously

I And I have loved you so long [}

♪ Delighting in... ♪

LESTER:
You got a great voice, baby...

for callin' hogs.

♪ ...company ♪

♪ Greensleeves ♪

♪ Was all my joy ♪

♪ Greensleeves ♪

♪ Was my delight ♪

- ♪ Greensleeves... ♪
- LESTER: It's me, Amy Jo.

(slurring):
Your old flame,

and I'm still burnin'.

I followed you out here
to Hollywood, Amy Jo.

Now, you take it from
an old platter spinner:

you ain't never gonna
make it to the top.

So why don't you come home
and marry me?

Lester Crawford,
you get out of here!

Aw, now, baby, look, now get
them stars out of your eyes.

You ain't nothing but
a queen-size flop!

This ain't no place for...

All right, mouth, out!

Amy Jo, come on home.

You ain't gonna do nothing here.

Oh...

Lester's a disc jockey at a
little radio station back home.

He's been pestering me
for years to marry him,

but I could never love
anyone as awful as him.

I understand, honey.

But, you know, maybe...
you should quit this racket.

Maybe the thing for you
is to get married

and raise pretty babies,
like you.

You just don't want me
to sing at your club

because everything was
such a mess tonight.

Okay, okay.

You can come back.

Tomorrow night?

JAZBO:
Tomorrow night. Anytime.

But you're a nice kid,

and I don't want to see you
get your heart broke.

This can be a cold, cruel town.

I'll do better tomorrow night.

You'll see, Mr. Williams.

- Jazbo.
- Jazbo.

Oh, I know what you're thinking.

A lot of girls come out here
thinking they can be big stars,

but... well...
I'm determined to stick it out.

Well...

don't think I'm not
pulling for you, kid.

That's where I live.
The second building.

Uh-huh.

You're spending too much money,
too, I'll bet.

Well... thanks for
everything, Jazbo.

I'll-I'll see you
tomorrow night?

Okay.

- And if I'm good, I can stay?
- No pay.

Whatever you say.

Jazbo...

I get billing?

Well, you've been here a week.

You're entitled to something.

Oh, you're an angel!

♪ Love, oh, love ♪

♪ Oh careless love ♪

♪ Love, oh, love ♪

♪ Oh careless love ♪

♪♪

♪ Love, oh, love ♪

♪ Oh careless love ♪

♪ You see what love ♪

♪ Has done for me. ♪

Well, you insisted on
hearing the kid,

but don't say I didn't warn you.
Let's go.

Sit down, Lionel.
What's the rush?

Look, Harry, I did you a favor

and wasted last night
meeting her.

She's a sweet, simple kid
with no talent.

Now, come on...

I want you to introduce me.

Harry, you're out of your tree.

Oh, I'm sorry to keep you
waiting, Mr. Mason,

but they seemed halfway
to want an encore,

so I accommodated them before
they could change their minds.

I'm sure the applause was
wholehearted, Miss Jennings.

Oh, this is all so wonderful,
Mr. Mason.

I just adore show business.

Well, now, what was it
you wanted me to sign?

This power of attorney

and this receipt for a stock
transfer to your account.

Evidently you haven't kept
in very close contact

with that business of yours.

Oh...

Aren't I awful?

Since I got out here,
I've been so busy

trying to start my career
that I almost plumb forgot about

the Home Folks Remedies
Company.

Well, as company president, I
suppose you can do as you want.

Since you happen to
control the stock.

Well, my daddy left it to me.

You know, Mr. Mason, he started
out peddling freckle remover

and cold cream and cough syrup
door to door, and now look.

I'm impressed.

You've inherited
quite a financial empire.

Isn't it sinful?

(giggles)

Mr. Mason, how did my lawyers

down in Tennessee
know about you?

I went to law school
with one of the partners.

George Hutchinson.

Oh, Mr. Hutchinson's a doll.

Well, now, where do I sign?

Right there...

and there.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

You're a doll, too.

Except, uh, I think
maybe in the future

I ought to come to your office.

See, the folks around here
might not quite understand if...

well, I want them to like me,
you understand?

To take my career seriously,
and not just think that I...

-(knocking at door)
- Come in.

Excuse me, Miss Jennings.

Remember me?
Last night?

Oh, Mr. Albright!
Do I!

Oh, Mr. Mason, have you met
Mr. Lionel Albright?

He's the movie star.

Hello, Mr. Albright.

How do you do?

Harry Bronson is at my table,
Miss Jennings.

He would very much
like to meet you.

Harry-Harry Bronson, the agent?

Yes, he's, uh...

Oh, you'll have to excuse me,
Mr. Mason.

- I've got to go now.
- Of course.

But if I can help you again
in Los Angeles...

Oh, now don't you worry about me
for a second, Mr. Mason.

Bye-bye!

There we are, Mr. Bronson.

I'm all signed
on the dotted line.

Is there anything else?

Well, that's it for now, Amy Jo,

but you will be
hearing from us very soon.

Oh, I just can't tell you
how thrilled I am

that you're gonna be
representing me.

It's a real pleasure
for Harry Bronson

to represent such
a fine, new talent.

I look forward to a long and
mutually beneficial association.

Thank you very much
for coming in.

Oh, thank you.

'Bye now.

What's the matter?

That... that person out there.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Bronson.

What person?

Well, his name is Lester
Crawford, from back home.

I just can't turn around
without his following me.

Oh, I'd be mortified if he came
around here pestering you.

Natalie?

Natalie, there's someone named
Crawford out there.

Will you get rid of him, please?

Immediately.
Just do as I say!

Oh, I feel like
a nuisance already.

Nonsense.

There you are, my dear.

Just one of the many services
we hope to give you.

Is he gone?

Take the other door there,
it goes out the side way.

Well, goodbye, my dear.
We'll keep in touch, hmm?

Thank you. Thank you very much.

I take it my husband
is in his office.

Good morning, Mrs. Bronson.
Yes, he is.

But I believe Mr. Siebring
was just waiting

-until the girl...
- Never mind, dear, never mind.

Harry, don't start talking yet.

Oh... hi, Evelyn.

Well, what got you out of bed
before noon, baby?

And to the office, yet!

Al and I were just gonna...

Harry, my diamond watch
bracelet... it's missing.

What do you mean, it's missing?

Well, I lost it.

Or someone stole it.

Who knows?

Who knows?
Just like that, huh?

Well, what do you
expect me to do about it?

Well, you could have it
replaced, darling.

Evelyn, you think
I'm made of money?

That watch bracelet
set me back $ , .

Five thousand bucks!

So put in a claim to
the insurance company.

What else are they for?

How many claims do you
think I can put in?

Last month you "lost"
a diamond dinner ring.

Before that, you said somebody
stole your mink coat.

Now, how can I go back to
the insurance company?

- Forget it!
- All right, Harry, I will.

And I'll pick out
another one and charge it.

(Siebring laughs)

You do that, Evelyn,

and I'll cut off every
charge account in this town.

All you know to do is spend.

Spend! Spend!

You know I'm putting
every dime I can spare

into production right now.

Even the dough
he owes me, Evvie.

Well, that's your problem, Al.

I have my own.

Yeah?

Well, I've got problems, too.
Plenty!

But right now you're
not gonna be one of them.

Now, get out of here.

(door slams)

And you don't have to
keep needling me

about what's coming to you.

You'll get your dough.

That road show is going to be
booked solid through the summer.

So hold your horses!

Harry, we are supposed to
manage talent,

not produce summer musicals.

You don't know anything
about producing musicals.

And you don't know anything
about a talent agency.

That's why you
backed my experience.

Right?

Who brought in the stars?

I did, right?

What stars?

What big name have you brought
in, aside from Lionel Albright?

Albright is box office!

Starring in a musical road show,
he's money in the bank.

Money in the bank?

You haven't even got enough cash
to pay advances!

I'll get the cash.

Now stop bugging me!

I'm a terrible bother,

making you drive me home
every night.

Well, it's better than
letting you pay for the bus.

You don't have
to do it Friday night,

if you'll let me have
the night off.

Yeah, what's the deal?

Well, Harry Bronson is throwing
a party at the Crystal Room,

and if I'm not there,
I'll just perish.

Well, we can't have that.

Who's your date?

Oh, I'm stagging.

It's just for agency clients

and picture people.

You, uh, moving up kind of fast,
aren't you?

Well, is there anything wrong
with that?

I'm not sure.

I mean, you're an unknown.

So, why is a man like Bronson
paying so much attention to you?

Well, that's knocking me down,
but good.

Well, that's not the way
I meant it,

but, well, it's a fair question.

All right, Mr. Smarty,

I wasn't going to tell you
until I was sure,

but, uh, I just may have a part

in Mr. Bronson's summer musical.

Now, do I get Friday night off
or don't I?

Okay.

All right, you can go

if I can pick you up
after the party.

What are you, big brother?

You don't have to babysit me.

I'll be waiting for you
after the party.

Really, you are unreal.

I can take care of myself.

(lounge music playing)

AMY JO: So, I told this director
I needed motivation,

not a lesson in how to act.

Oh, Mr. Bronson,
it's so thrilling

to be even a little tiny bit
of all this.

Feel like a dream come true?

Oh, if you only knew.

Well, you just trust
Harry Bronson, my dear.

This is the beginning
of a whole, new exciting life.

Mr. Bronson?

Uh, they want to take
our picture.

(shutter clicks)

Oh, may I have some of those

for my hometown paper
and my friends and all?

Don't worry, honey,
I'll take care of it.

Like to dance, my dear?

Hello, Mr. Bronson.

Oh, hello.

Oh, I tell you,
the folks back home

are just never going
to believe it.

Their own Amy Jo,
star of a musical.

(giggles)

Why don't you divorce him?

And why don't you go out
and get yourself a job, Chris?

(groans)

Now look, honey...

No.

No, I, uh, I've done
all I can for you, Chris.

I've had it.

Al right.

I'll redeem your bracelet,
just soon as I get a break.

But we could be together,
Eve, if you would just...

Now is not the time
to hit Harry for alimony.

As a matter of fact,
right now...

Right now he's worth more
dead than alive, huh?

Chris.

How could you say such a thing?

Well, Harry,

you've got little old Amy Jo
in seventh heaven.

What did you...

Why don't you mind
your own business?

But all I meant was
that she's a nice kid, Harry.

I just wondered what...

I know what I'm doing,

and that's all you need to know.

Okay, actor?

(slurring):
Now, just wait.

Just you sit there and wait.

Hey, buddy.

Isn't that that, uh,
Audrey Stemple, the singer?

Yeah, big deal.

Well, I hope she's not
just coming to the party.

I thought it would be
all over by now.

She ain't going to no party,
friend.

She's gonna fry an egg,
she says.

Take just a minute, she says.

(laughs)
Slow baste it in gin...

What that dame needs
is a Saint Bernard

with a keg around its neck.

Well, that's one way
to stay awake, I guess.

Yeah.

(engine starting)

- Excuse me, Mrs. Bronson.
- Yes?

Your husband isn't feeling
very well.

Oh, now don't tell me he's
pooping out on his own party.

It's his stomach again,
that's all.

But he would like
to go home right away.

Go home?

Well, darling, I can't leave
all my guests.

Tell him to drive himself.

He's afraid to.

Please, you understand,
Mrs. Bronson.

When Harry
takes tranquilizers...

You can nursemaid him yourself,
I'm sure.

Mr. Siebring will help you.

Now run along, darling.

That's a good girl.

I've got to go, I tell you.

Please, Audrey...

And I said I want to see Harry.

And I said
tomorrow morning, huh?

That's all I know.

He said see him
tomorrow morning.

Al, do you know how many offers

I've had for other parts?

If he thinks I'm going
to sit around twiddling...

Baby, it is all arranged.

You'll get your advance,
Harry says so.

Well, then why can't I
see him tonight?

Oh, because his wife's here.

Because a million things,
I don't know.

Now look, be a good girl,

let me go,
and you go home, huh, baby?

No!

You will get
your advance tomorrow.

In cash.

AUDREY:
Cash?

Amy Jo.

Jazbo Williams,

what in the world
are you doing here,

and dressed like that?

Come on, Amy Jo,
let's get out of this joint.

No.

Oh, I'm sorry I've kept you
waiting and all, Jazbo,

but this is my night.

Look, I got to talk to you.

And I've got to talk to you,

'cause you don't know
what happened.

Listen, don't tell anybody yet,

but I'm going to play opposite
Mr. Lionel Albright.

Really true!

In Mr. Bronson's summer musical.

Come here.

Wait a minute.

Could we have
your autograph please,

Miss Stemple?

Why, you sweet thing, you.

You certainly may.

Jazbo, please.

My friend here works
on a high school newspaper.

I thought maybe I could get her
a story or something.

You are going to do
a musical show this summer

for Harry Bronson, aren't you?

Well, as a matter of fact...

With Lionel Albright, maybe?

How'd you guess?

Of course I don't usually

do summer shows,

but yes.

Harry Bronson
has persuaded me...

No.

No, he's only doing
one musical and...

Oh, it's all been very secret,

honey, so far.

AMY JO:
But I've got that part.

I'm going to star in...

You're what?

You?

- Amy Jo, now listen...
-(laughing)

It's true!

He promised me!

Well, even before I...

Well, I'm even a partner,
sort of.

Don't look at me
that way, Jazbo.

It's true!

AUDREY:
Wait a minute.

What do you mean,
partner, honey?

I gave him my check just tonight

for $ , .

(laughs)

JAZBO:
Amy Jo!

Amy Jo!

Amy Jo, come back here!

Miss Jennings' phone
still doesn't answer.

I wonder if she went home at all
after the party last night.

Perry, just because she signed
with Harry Bronson

doesn't mean that she has
any connections with...

That's what worries me, Della.

Why would Harry Bronson
sign an unknown

who has no great talent,

but does have
a great deal of money?

Ordinarily, I suppose she
wouldn't even be invited

to this kind of party.

Exactly.

And I found that Bronson's
in financial difficulties.

-(knocks "Shave and a Haircut")
- And now, Bronson being dead

and Amy Jo missing...

Hello, Paul.
Do you have something?

Well, this didn't get
in the papers,

but the police found
a woman's glove lying

on the floor
next to Bronson's body.

A glove could belong to anybody.

Have you checked
at Hillbilly Haven?

Club isn't open
until : p.m.,

and Jazbo Williams,
the proprietor,

isn't listed in the phone book,

but I hear he has a small
beach house out in Malibu.

Which, of course,
takes in a lot of territory.

Find him, Paul.

Go over that beach
with a fine-toothed comb.

You mind
if I use vacuum cleaners?

Might sell a few,
going door to door.

I think it's a good idea.

(knocking)

Mr. Williams?

- That's right.
- Paul Drake.

I'm looking for a girl

who works at your place,
a Miss Amy Jo Jennings.

Well, what makes you think
she's here, Mr. Drake?

Just a hunch.

Well, I hope when you go
to the races,

you don't pick horses
the same way.

No, I have a system
with the horses.

This is her lawyer's hunch,
not mine.

- Her lawyer?
- Perry Mason.

What does Mr. Mason want
with me?

Well, after what happened
last night,

Miss Jennings,
he's a little worried.

Particularly since
you couldn't be reached at home.

What happened last night?

Haven't you read
the morning papers?

Harry Bronson was m*rder*d.

(gasping):
m*rder*d.

Oh, no.

Why, when I saw him, he was...

he was only asleep.

When was that?

Amy Jo went to a party
he gave last night.

That's the last time
she saw him.

Yes.

Yes, at the party.

That's where I saw him.
He was...

Well, he takes pills
or something.

Are you missing
the mate to this?

Yes, I lost it last night.

I guess in the parking lot,
after the party.

Why?

What's the matter?

Well, I guess Perry Mason
has better hunches than I do.

Perry, I'm with Amy Jo,

and she's in this thing
up to her neck.

Yeah.

Here's the address.

And then I ran
out of the parking lot,

and I took a cab
to Mr. Bronson's house.

Who admitted you, Amy Jo?

Well, somebody had left
the keys in the door.

Rather convenient, wasn't it?

It's the gospel truth,
Mr. Mason.

Nobody was home except,

well, Mr. Bronson was
in the library,

flat on his back on the couch.

I didn't even see him at first,
he was so sound asleep.

Honestly, I didn't dream
he was dead.

There wasn't any blood
or anything like that.

So, you tried to wake him up?

Well, I shook him a little.

I even poured some water
on his face

from a glass that was there,
but it didn't faze him.

Water would hardly faze
a dead man.

But maybe he wasn't dead then.

He was sort of limp,
not rigid and all

like they say a corpse gets.

And then I heard something

and thought
maybe I'd better leave.

And then when I ran
down the hall,

I saw a car coming up
from the side street,

and I knew he'd be all right.

MASON:
How long were you there, Amy Jo?

Just long enough to try
to get my check.

Well, I thought it would be
in his wallet.

You searched his wallet?

Well, it just sort of fell
out of his pocket.

But the check wasn't there.

And even before I saw him, I'd
looked through some papers

on the desk
and the desk drawer and...

Well, after all,
I felt I had a right

to get my check back,
now didn't I?

Your fingerprints will show up

everywhere in that room,
of course.

Well, good gracious,
Mr. Mason,

that doesn't mean
I k*lled the poor man!

Al right.

Now tell me about the car
you saw.

Well, I didn't really see
what it looked like.

I just wanted to run,
don't you understand?!

I walked all over
that neighborhood

trying to find a cab.

And then Mr. Williams here came
driving by,

but he's just mad at me 'cause I
have so much money

and 'cause I'm so plain
dumb foolish.

Oh, Mr. Mason, if you only knew
how mortified I was.

Believing that awful man was
gonna put me in

some kind of a big starry...
(sniffles)

Oh, but what am I gonna do?!

I understand, Paul.
Right away.

Yes, and if the check is on
her hometown bank,

maybe I can stop payment, but...

If and when the check's
deposited,

that's what I want to know.

And who the person is who
deposits it.

Exactly.

Meanwhile,
I've got some other stuff

to run down for Perry, so...

And maybe that person is
the m*rder*r.

Well, don't count on Amy Jo
not getting some votes.

Bronson's death was a terrible
shock to me, Mason.

I could hardly believe it
when I saw the papers.

Mr. Albright, I assume you've
been represented by Bronson

and Siebring for some time.

Well, by Harry Bronson
personally.

We've been friends
for a long time.

The night of the party,

did you know Miss Jennings gave
Bronson $ , ?

No, not precisely.

I didn't know she had
that kind of money.

But I knew that Bronson wasn't
leveling with her.

He was using her some way to...

Audrey!

Not so loud.
My head might fall off.

Miss Stemple, this is Mr.
Perry Mason, the attorney.

Hello.

Where's your tomato juice?

Mr. Mason represents
Amy Jo Jennings.

Drink, Mason?

No, thanks.

That stupid little wench.

I'm sorry, Mr. Mason, but I hope
she gets the limit.

Audrey...

There have been no accusations
against her yet, Miss Stemple.

Well, if I'd have just kept
my big mouth shut,

Harry would still be alive

and you and I, Lionel, would be
getting some fat paychecks

this summer,
and could I use a few.

Well, anyway,
I hope they find her.

I hope they throw
the book at her!

Shut up, Audrey, and drink this!

I won't shut up!

I'll scream my head off until...

(phone rings)

Hello? Yes?

There's not enough pepper
in this.

Just a moment, please.
Mr. Mason, for you.

Thank you. Hello?

Perry, one of the banks
just called back,

and that check has already been
deposited.

Who, when and where?

First thing this morning.

Deposited to the agency account
of Bronson and Siebring

by Harry Bronson's
own secretary.

Thanks, Della.

Any news?
Anything important?

Miss Stemple would like
some more pepper.

There was nothing improper about
depositing Miss Jenning's check

in the agency account,
Mr. Mason.

But I understood it was made out
to Bronson Productions.

That's a subsidiary.

True, my partner handled that
end of the business,

but I'm a vice president.

And Miss Graham here is
authorized

to make any and all deposits.

That's correct.

How did you acquire the check so
quickly, Mr. Siebring?

(chuckles) Well, there's
nothing mysterious

about that either, Mr. Mason.

Natalie and I drove Harry home
last night.

And he gave me the check

to take straight
to the bank this morning.

Mr. Siebring,
you know, of course,

that Miss Jennings gave your
partner the check under

the assumption that she would be
starred in his summer musical.

Natalie, do you know

of any such agreement in writing
with Miss Jennings?

No. The only contract that we
have with Miss Jennings is

to represent her in all phases
of entertainment.

SIEBRING: So there you are,
Mr. Mason.

We really didn't ask Bronson
any questions.

Money is money.

Not until it clears
the home bank, Mr. Siebring.

We'll stop payment on
that check immediately.

(knocking)

Jazbo?

Mr. Drake?

(knocking continues)

Amy Jo? It's me, Lester.

(knocking)

Amy Jo, now I know you're
in there.

Now you open the door.

Now you want me to go running up
and down the beach

-yelling your name?
-(knocking)

Amy Jo, you want everybody
to know where you're hiding?

Lester, how did you find me?

Shucks, honey,
that was pure easy.

I just followed you down here
nearly two weeks ago.

Oh, you snoop!

Sure, that's the way a fella's
gotta be, Amy Jo.

Well, at least
for certain girls.

Well, I don't want to see you,
Lester.

Please, just...

Sure.

What are you doing here
all alone, Amy Jo?

Where's that Jazbo character,
huh?

He-He went out to get us
something to eat.

When?

Three hours ago.

Hmm.

Well, Amy Jo...

if you're hungry,
I got a candy bar here.

You want it?

Well, anyhow, I sure wouldn't
desert you.

I don't care how much trouble
you're in.

He didn't desert me!

Or let myself get caught
by the cops, maybe.

Well, what's the difference?

Bu I sure do hate to think

what he might be saying to them
about you, that's all.

That is not true!

Jazbo wouldn't!

Oh, Lester...

I didn't really do anything.

I didn't k*ll Harry Bronson.

Well, Amy Jo, now whether you
did or whether you didn't,

I guess you had motive enough,

and I want you to know

that I'm gonna do anything
that I can to help.

I told you I didn't k*ll him!

Well, Amy Jo, now then what are
you sittin' here for?

Don't you see what I mean?

They gonna accuse you of this.

And your reputation...

they're gonna spread your name
all over them papers.

Amy Jo, your career,
it is gonna go kerflooey.

Oh, I wish
I'd never even come out here.

Oh, Lester,
I've been such a fool.

Oh, now, now, now Amy Jo...

you ain't nothing
but a woman.

I'm gonna think real hard
for you.

Yeah, I'm gonna think
real hard for you.

Oh, Lester!

Mind if I come in, counselor?

Oh, hello, Andy.

I'm sorry I wasn't here earlier
when you called.

Which time?
Well, never mind.

When you're hiding a client,
I understand how it is.

All right, Andy, if you'd like
to take a ride now,

I'll surrender Amy Jo Jennings.

Perry, why don't you ride
with me instead?

We've already got her in jail.

She wants to see her lawyer.

Mr. Albright, you've stated that
you knew that Mr. Bronson was

having trouble financing
this musical.

Now, when did you first have
knowledge

that the money for the
production had been raised?

At the party
before Bronson was m*rder*d.

He told me we were all set
to go into production.

In fact, that's what he was
celebrating.

Well, did you know that the
defendant was providing

this financial backing,

apparently on the basis
of promises

that she was going to have a
part in the production?

Well, at the time,
I could only surmise

that's where he got the money.

I did know that Bronson was in
no position

to risk Amy Jo in
a starring role.

I understand,
but when did you learn that

she was to have no part
at all?

At Bronson's party that night.

- The night of his m*rder?
- Yes.

Then, you say that you had
learned that even after

Bronson had accepted the check
from the defendant,

he still planned to have Audrey
Stemple play that part,

just as he had intended
all along?

Yes, I warned Harry he was
making a mistake

pulling a stunt like that.

I warned him that he was headed
for trouble.

Well, did you mean that Miss
Jennings might simply withdraw

her financial support or were
you suggesting that the shock

of finding out that she had
been used, cheated

might cause her...

- Objection, Your Honor.
- Sustained.

I'd never seen this girl before
until she came up with that man.

He asked me if I was going
to do Harry Bronson's show,

and well, for some impulsive
reason, I admitted it,

even though Harry asked me to
keep it secret for a while.

Now, what was the defendant's
reaction when you said

that you were gonna star
with Mr. Albright?

Well, you'd think
she was being m*rder*d

like poor Harry was.

And what did Miss Jennings do?

She ran out of the bar.

And what did you do,
Miss Stemple?

I had my taxi drive me home.

The next morning, of course,
I was very upset

I had even spoken
to that couple.

If I had kept my mouth shut,

poor Harry would never
have been m*rder*d.

Objection, Your Honor.

If this witness is
gonna persist in...

Objection sustained.

The witness will confine herself
to direct answers

to counsel's questions.

Proceed, Mr. Burger.

I have no further questions,
Your Honor.

Lieutenant Anderson, it has been
established that the victim d*ed

from a severe blow on the back
of the head,

administered by some blunt
instrument

similar to this ashtray.

Now you have, of course,
seen the ashtray before?

Yes, sir.

And you also heard testimony

to the effect that
the indented fracture

in the back of the victim's
skull exactly matched

the curve of this ashtray?

-I did. -Now, what other
laboratory investigation

was this ashtray subjected to?

ANDERSON:
Fingerprint analysis.

We found clear prints of the
defendant on the sides, there.

BURGER:
I see.

Lieutenant, would you
tell us, please,

where you found
this lady's glove?

On the floor
in Mr. Bronson's library,

near the couch
on which the body lay.

And where did you find the mate
to this glove, Lieutenant?

In Mr. Williams' beach house,
where the defendant

had been staying until
she was taken into custody.

BURGER: Now, what
other evidence did you uncover

to place the defendant
at the Bronson home?

Her fingerprints were found
on some desk drawers

which apparently
had been ransacked.

Also on an empty water glass
on a table near the body.

I see.

And now, Lieutenant, finally,

would you identify
this wallet for us?

Yes, sir.

It belonged to the deceased.

The morning after the m*rder,
the police recovered it

from some bushes
along the main front drive

of the Bronson estate.

BURGER: Thank you, Lieutenant.
That will be all.

Mr. Mason?

Lieutenant,

were fingerprints found
on the wallet you just examined?

- No.
- It has been stated

that the victim lay face-up
on the couch,

that he had been struck
on the back of the head,

therefore there was no blood nor
visible sign of injury.

Now, is that correct?

Well, he was a little mussed up.

There were some signs
of a struggle, but...

Now the doctor stated
that his autopsy indicated

traces of a tranquilizing agent
in Mr. Bronson's stomach.

You're familiar
with that report, of course.

I also heard the doctor state
he did not think

the amount was sufficient
to induce any heavy sleep.

Now, Lieutenant,
please confine yourself.

I'm sorry, Your Honor.

But you do know what I'm driving
at, don't you, Lieutenant?

If Mr. Bronson had been heavily,
soundly asleep,

then wouldn't you say
that a visitor to the room

might become worried about him,

might have picked up a glass
to put water on his face?

Perhaps even move
that ash tray aside so...

And you, Mr. Mason, please.

I'll, um,

I'll withdraw that question,
Your Honor.

That's all, Lieutenant.

EVELYN: After the party,
I left our car at the hotel.

Mr. Thompson drove me home.

We had just parked
and switched off the lights

when we saw a woman
running off down the street.

BURGER: Did you recognize
that woman, Mrs. Bronson?

EVELYN:
Of course.

It was Miss Jennings.

BURGER: Didn't you attempt
to follow her?

No.

At the time it seemed
more amusing than alarming.

Mrs. Bronson,

I show you this diagram
of your area.

Now, the police have testified

that they found
your husband's wallet

in this shrubbery
by the drive.

Did the woman you saw fleeing

pass anywhere near
that shrubbery?

EVELYN: That's exactly where I
saw her first.

It's exactly the way she said.

I saw exactly the same thing
as Mrs. Bronson.

All right, but will you tell us
in your own words

exactly what you saw
when you went into the house

and entered the library.

Well, as Evelyn said,

Harry was lying there
on the couch, face up, dead.

The desk drawers
had been gone through,

like the Lieutenant said.

There was a glove on the floor.

Naturally,
I didn't touch anything

except, of course, the telephone
to call the police.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson.

Mr. Mason?

Mr. Thompson,

you were a frequent visitor
at the Bronson home,

were you not?

I was there occasionally.

MASON:
Did your visits usually coincide

with Harry Bronson's absence?

THOMPSON:
Of course not.

He was away from home a lot,
that's all.

I notice neither you
nor Mrs. Bronson

stated just how quickly
you entered the house

after seeing a woman
run off down the street.

The defendant, you mean?

Well, I suppose
it was a minute or two.

There really didn't seem
to be any cause for alarm.

That is, until we found the key
in the front door.

A minute or two?

Could it have been three?

Perhaps.

Or four, five, ten?

- Now, see here...
- Or were you quite oblivious

of the passage of time,
Mr. Thompson?

Look, I resent...

Why do you resent it?

You've identified yourself
as a family friend.

Surely there's nothing wrong

with parking in a secluded spot
with an old friend's wife.

Your Honor!

MASON:
I beg the Court's indulgence,

but I would like
to ask one question.

Do you happen to know
how much life insurance

Harry Bronson carried?

THOMPSON: No, the thought
never entered my mind.

BURGER: Well, Mr. Williams,

you just heard the judge
tell you

that you must answer
these questions.

Now, where did you finally find
Miss Jennings

that night?

She was on the street,

a couple of blocks
from the Bronson house,

looking for a taxi.

BURGER:
And what was her appearance?

Her manner?

Upset, I guess.

Wouldn't hysterical be a more
accurate word, Mr. Williams?

No.

No, I said before,
she was crying, that's all.

Oh, I see, you took her
down to your beach house

and hid her there
just because she was crying.

I wasn't trying to hide her.

She was in a state of shock,
you might say.

I was afraid she would...

I got this spare room.

Mr. Williams, we all understand

what she'd been through
that night.

Isn't it true that you hid her
at your beach house

because you were afraid
of what she might do

in her hysterical condition?

Harry gave Natalie,
his secretary, his keys,

so she could open the front door
and let us in the side way.

And when you
and the secretary left,

the keys were still
in the door lock?

I suppose so;
I didn't really notice.

BURGER: I think that'll be all,
Mr. Siebring.

Cross-examine?

Mr. Siebring,
why did you and Bronson

want to enter the house
through the side door

instead of the front?

Well, uh,

we just wanted to be alone
for a minute, that's all.

Discuss some personal things,

money matters,
without Natalie there.

MASON:
Money matters?

The fact that your agency
was going broke?

Going broke because Bronson had
never put in his share

of the company financing
he'd promised?

Mr. Mason, if you're still
trying to imply

that I had no right to deposit
that check of Miss Jennings'...

BURGER: Your Honor,
I see no reason for counsel

to pry into the business affairs
of this witness.

Your Honor,
this matter involves a fraud

-perpetrated against my client.
- Proceed, Mr. Mason.

I am curious, Mr. Siebring,
why did you form a partnership

with a man like Harry Bronson
in the first place?

Well, Harry had some big clients
and I didn't.

At least,
he had Lionel Albright.

Only instead of using him

on something
that would bring in quick cash,

Harry had to go gambling
on his own with summer musicals.

In other words,
Bronson had no intention

of your sharing
in the profits he'd made.

That's the general idea.

So when you saw a $ , check,

you saw a chance
to avenge yourself.

SIEBRING: No.

MASON: Temptation was too great?

- You saw a chance to...
- No, that's not true.

I didn't steal that check,
and I didn't k*ll Harry.

Oh, Mr. Mason,
I didn't hit Mr. Bronson

over the head with that ash tray
or anything else.

But unfortunately,
your fingerprints...

Well, when I was trying
to find my check.

There were some papers
on the desk.

Maybe that's when I moved
the ash tray.

Well, yes, maybe it is;
I remember now.

I just wish you'd remembered
to stay put

in Jazbo's shack on the beach.

AMY JO:
But I told you.

Jazbo hadn't come back.

He'd already been caught
like you said,

and they'd made him tell
where I was.

So, you decided you just had
to go out and get a hamburger.

But I was hungry.

Oh, I know you'd told me not
to leave there,

and I wasn't going to run away
or anything.

At least, I don't think I was,
but I was all so confused.

- And Lester said...
- Lester?

Lester Crawford.

It was his idea I could leave
the beach house without being...

Paul, you have some
long distance investigating...

- To do in a hurry, I know.
- And don't forgot the nice guys.

Don't worry.

Nice guys?

Cross your fingers, Amy Jo.

But I did not pry
into private affairs.

I'm a secretary.

I've done only
what I've been told to do.

I am not asking about the check,
Miss Graham.

I simply wanted to know
when you first heard

the name Amy Jo Jennings?

When she signed her contract
with us, I suppose.

You handled no messages
concerning the girl before that?

Well, I did hear Mr. Bronson
ask Lionel Albright

to go hear the girl's singing
a few days before that.

And I remember Mr. Albright
said he couldn't be bothered,

but then, of course,
Mr. Bronson insisted.

And where did Bronson learn
the girl's name?

It might have been after
that loud young man

came visiting the first time.

MASON: Loud young man?

A disc jockey Mr. Bronson met
a few years ago.

His name is Lester Crawford.

All right, yes.

I did drop in to say howdy
to Bronson, but that's all.

And tell him
who Amy Jo Jennings really was?

Tell him how much money she had?

Mr. Crawford, I find that
you left your last employment

with a radio station
in Tennessee rather hurriedly.

Well, no, actually,

I didn't see eye
to eye with...

I am also informed there is
a slight discrepancy

in advertising accounts

which the station would still
like to talk to you about.

A discrepancy
of exactly $ , .

Isn't that true?

No, that is not true.

Remember, you're under oath.

You wouldn't want to add perjury
to your other troubles,

-would you?
-I, uh...

I was going to pay
the station back.

How? With whose money?

Amy Jo certainly had said no
to you a thousand times.

Yes, but, uh...

Was Harry Bronson going
to give it to you?

LESTER:
He said he might.

MASON: As payment for giving him
a ripe plum named Amy Jo

just ready for picking?

Now, look now, that ain't no way
to talk about...

Mr. Crawford,
the day after the m*rder,

why did you want
Amy Jo caught running?

Why were you so anxious
to have her look guilty?

Now look, I, uh...

Listen, Amy Jo, I didn't...

Don't talk to her,
or she'll tell you that

she didn't throw that wallet
of Bronson's into the shrubbery.

Now, who did? You?

Maybe I did.

He owed me the money.

He'd promised to pay me $ ,

as soon as she paid him.

MASON: Were you in the house
that night?

Of course I was!
Don't you understand?

I k*lled him.

Go on, Mr. Crawford.

He said he wouldn't pay.

He got real nasty like.

He told me to get out.

That's when I hit him.

Only he didn't get up.

I carried him to the couch.

That's when I heard
Amy Jo coming in.

I hid there
until after she left.

Then I picked up the wallet
and went out the side.

Only there was
this car pulling in there,

so I took off
across the back way,

through the woods.

But the wallet, Mr. Crawford.

Well, there wasn't
but $ in it.

I read in the papers
the next morning,

that they were looking
for Amy Jo.

So, it was
a terrible thing to do,

but I went back

and tossed the wallet

right near the front
where Amy Jo had passed

when she went out.

Forgive me, Amy Jo,

but I just didn't want
to go to the gas chamber.

Don't you see?

Let's continue, Mr. Crawford.

Did you hit Bronson
with an ash tray?

I don't know.

He might have fell against it.

I don't know.

And the, uh,

car on the side road.

Amy Jo also mentioned
hearing it.

Of course,
we've already established

that the couple parked in front
were quite oblivious of time,

perhaps even to the sound
of the other car.

I didn't want the guy to see me.

MASON: The guy? What guy?

Well, sure, the guy in the car.

Now, if he saw me...

Did you see him, Mr. Albright?

What?

Did you go inside and find
Bronson still unconscious

from Lester's blow,

and realize
that here was your chance

to even the score
with your agent?

Mr. Albright,

you're considered
to be quite a nice guy.

Why did you stay
with Harry Bronson's agency?

Why were you willing
to waste your talent

on a speculative summer musical,

for which even
Audrey Stemple insisted

she be paid some sort
of advance?

I'm not a nice guy.

Amy Jo, ...

I thought that guy running
through the woods

would be blamed for it, not you,

but did I open my mouth
about it?

No.

Well, once I was even less
of a nice guy,

and Harry knew it.

And all of these years,

he's been using me, bleeding me.

Yes, Mr. Mason.

I saw my chance.

I k*lled him.

♪ Wake up in the morning
to the alarm's ting-a-ling ♪

♪ Hop out of the hay,
face the day with zing ♪

How do you like the act so far?

♪ Life can be an endless dream ♪

♪ If you use
Home Folks' Freckle Cream ♪

Well?

Well, what do you think?

Well, uh, uh,

I think Jazbo has a great future

doing singing commercials.

(laughs)
Singing commercials? Me?

Oh, Jazbo, you'll just love it
down south, Jazbo!

You'd like working for
Home Folks Remedies,

after all, you said I don't
belong out here so...

DRAKE:
Stop fighting it, son.

Who cares about the future?

Going to marry the boss
some day, aren't you?

(theme song playing)